Online banking app Revolut has issued a warning and advice to its two million Irish users ahead of Black Friday.
As Black Friday approaches, Irish shoppers are starting to think about grabbing a bargain on clothes, gadgets or other big ticket items ahead of Christmas but in an email to customers Revolut bosses say, "be wary."
They warned: "As we enter the busiest period of the year for shopping, criminals will be keeping busy too. We're here to remind you about one of the most common forms of cybercrime, and how you can stay protected."
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They are warning customers of the app about purchase scams that can do the rounds, particularly around big retail events like Black Friday.
Purchase scams are when fake or non-existent items are advertised for sale. These goods often appear on auction sites or social media, with images (and even reviews) taken from genuine sellers to convince you that they're the real deal.
In its email to customers, Revolut added: "Criminals also use cloned websites, with small changes to the URL, to trick you into thinking that you're buying from a genuine retailer."
How to spot them
If you see products and services heavily discounted from their retail price, then be on guard!
If you’re asked to pay by bank transfer instead of an online payment or card transaction, that's also a red flag
Scammers will often counterfeit receipts and invoices. Always read these carefully and look for tell-tale signs of forgery. These include spelling errors, poor grammar, and unusual contact details — such as the seller’s address and email
What to do
If something sounds too good to be true, then that may well be the case.
"We recommend using a secure payment method, and to avoid paying via bank transfer. Also, make sure you read online reviews to check websites and sellers are genuine," Revolut says.
Disposable Cards
They also recommend using Revolut’s Disposable Virtual Cards and say it is one way to make safer and more secure payments online.
"Each time you make an online payment with a Virtual Card, we'll automatically destroy the existing card details and generate new ones. These will then appear directly in the app, as a new disposable card.
"These cards are designed to protect your card details from being cloned when paying online."
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